“Yes, sir.” I walk out into the hallway, but don’t quite leave. The door is only partway shut, and I can hear them talking inside.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt,” Felisa says.
“Not at all,” Rinaldo replies. There’s a pause in the conversation, and I’m fairly sure their greeting has become more intimate. “I’m worried about him.”
“You worry about him a lot, darling.”
Darling. I feel a little nauseated.
“He’s very important to me, Felisa. He is as much a part of my family and this organization as anyone. In some ways, he’s the strongest and most suited to come after me, but I don’t know…”
“You’re wondering if he’s stable enough.”
“As long as he’s working, he is,” Rinaldo says. “It’s when he’s distracted from his purpose—that’s when he’s the most dangerous.”
“Do you think he’d hurt you?”
“Me? Oh no, Evan would never hurt me. I’m more concerned he’ll hurt hims
elf.”
“Maybe you should have someone watch him,” Felisa says.
“He would notice,” Rinaldo replies. “It would probably just get whoever was following him killed.”
“Is he really that quick to respond that way?”
“It’s the only way he knows how to respond. Now, enough of that—I have something for you.”
I hear Rinaldo’s desk drawer open and Felisa gasp.
“Oh, Naldo!” I tense at her use of his nickname. I’ve never heard anyone call him that but Lele. “It’s so beautiful!”
“Well, if you want to learn to play tennis, you ought to have the right kind of bracelet!” He laughs. “Shall we head to the court?”
Not wanting to be spotted, I head down the hallway and quietly open the door to the stairwell. Once outside, I lean against the Camaro and smoke a cigarette, waiting to see if they’ll come down together. Only a few minutes pass before they exit the building, and Rinaldo has his arm around her. She’s smiling up at him, and he’s beaming back at her. The tennis bracelet on her wrist sparkles in the sunlight. Though I’m standing in plain sight, they don’t look in my direction as they get into his car and head off.
I’m tempted to follow.
Ralph appears beside me, shaking his head.
“Oh yeah? Why not?” I glare at him.
“Because you’re pissed off, and you’ll do something stupid.”
I shove the cigarette between my lips and inhale deeply, biting down on the butt. I finish it and throw it to the ground before getting into the Camaro and slamming the door shut.
I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all, but I’ll refrain from doing anything about it.
Yet.
I head off to locate Jonathan.
I really need to figure out how to handle this.
Chapter 6—Random Encounters
There’s nothing like a good bar fight to relieve tension.